Bailiffs evict sports protesters from Wembley school site

Clash: protesters are dragged from the Wembley Academy site by council officials

Bailiffs have reclaimed the site for the new Wembley Academy after a heated clash with protesters.

Helped by about 20 Brent council officials, they moved onto the Bridge Road recreation ground yesterday, pulling down tents and evicting 15 members of the Grass Roots Association of Social Sports, who have occupied the site since 26 July in an attempt to stop temporary school buildings being put up.

Two protesters climbed trees and a third locked herself to a tree and then a mesh fence before being arrested by police. A JCB was used to dismantle a 7ft blockade which had been put up to stop lorries entering the site. Afterwards, the main gates were locked and officials began patrolling the site with dogs.

The permanent academy is due to open in 2010. Opponents say it should have been built in south Brent and claim the playing fields will not be accessible by the public.

Protesters accused the council of "bully boy tactics". But a spokesman for Brent, which had secured a warrant to evict the protesters, said: "The council was left with no option but to take over the grounds as problems accessing the site threatened to delay the construction of the temporary school."